Fact Check

Is Australia heading for European welfare spending?

Updated
May 13, 2014 12:42:58

Kevin Andrews has labelled Australia's welfare system unsustainable and says in 10 to 15 years' time Australia could find itself in the same situation that some European countries are in. ABC Fact Check investigates.

Fast facts

In the year to June 2014, 5,204 young Australians spent time in detention centres. A further 10,846 were under community-based supervision.

The rate of Indigenous young people in detention or under community supervision in 2013-14 was 189 per 10,000, substantially higher than the rate of non-indigenous young people of 13 per 10,000.

Under the Citizenship Act of 1948, Australians with dual citizenship who serve in the armed forces of a country at war with Australia cease to be Australian citizens from the time their war service begins.